Align Podcast

What is fear? Why do we hold on to it? What does the process of letting go of fear look like? What do we actually have control over? Are we pushing something too much? When can we make the decision to let something go? In this episode of the Align Podcast, Light Watkins and I discuss a subject that we experience often but that we dread, which is fear. When we experience fear, most of the time we fabricate this intense feeling in our own minds,  which explains why we all have different fears. But when we allow curiosity to overtake our fear, that’s when it becomes an opportunity for growth. In fact, gaining control over how we feel about fear will allow us to stay present at the moment long enough to make better choices at that moment that we are fearful. Plus, Light also talks about how his lifestyle allowed him to become resilient to change. Eventually, when we are faced with one too many events where uncertainty is high, we become capable of letting go of the little things and taking ownership of the bigger

Why are we so comfortable with the idea of failure, but fear the idea of success? Why do we self-sabotage ourselves when we are at the brink of reaching new levels of success? What part does your ego play in this?   In this episode of the Align Podcast, Steven Pressfield and I chat about resistance. While we tend to be afraid of failure, we tend to be more comfortable with that than the idea of being successful. In fact, we often find ourselves resisting success and engaging in self-sabotaging behavior. While the exact reason why we do this to ourselves is unknown, a plausible theory that Steven shares with us is that our own ego is trying to stop us from making that shift to the greater self, which is the I.    Plus, Steven also talks about how most of us are awaiting this one big Aha! moment in our lives in order to find our passion and zone of genius, but that the reality is that life is comprised of plenty of little ah-ha moments that slowly guide us towards that ‘big thing”.   Steven Pressfield is

Just how strong is the relationship between your mind and your health? Did you know that inflammation is not actually the REASON for your pain, but a symptom?   In this episode of the Align Podcast, Dr. Stephen Cabral and I discuss Naturopathic & Functional Medicine and how looking for the root cause of an illness is the key to healing. Stephen mentions how in today’s Western medical practices, doctors are quick to prescribe a drug that only serves as a band-aid over the real issue. They don't look for the root problem that is causing the health issues that their patients are experiencing. Examples of root causes include hormone imbalances, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, a leaky gut, unknown allergies and intolerances, and so much more.   Plus, we also discuss the relationship between the mind and the body and how important the mindset we take can impact our health and cause us to feel like a victim of our illness(es). In fact, for the longest time, Stephen himself felt like a victim to the immune d

Are you bullshiting yourself? Did you give yourself permission to want what you REALLY want, or do you want what society says you should? How can you be a more effective participant in this life experience you were given? In this episode of the Align Podcast, Lauren and I chat about the important relationships we have in our lives, such as with our intimate partner, with our friends, with our family members, and most importantly, the relationship we have with ourselves. In fact, when we start thinking about our aspirations and what our dreams are, most of us bullshit ourselves. While society has been working very hard to make us want things that don’t align with what we TRULY want for ourselves, we shouldn’t beat ourselves over it. As long as we take the time to learn more about ourselves and figure out what we truly want, we can still experience the lives we were given the way we want to live. Plus, Lauren talks about how horrified we humans are about the ways that we act and the lies that we tell. In fact,

What does it take to thrive in business? How can you start thinking like a disruptor? Can you take control over your destiny or is that something you should leave to the Universe? In this episode of the Align Podcast, Miki Agrawal and I discuss how we all have complete control over our destiny and how we can succeed in our endeavors if we give ourselves permission to see things differently. In fact, when it comes to business, Miki was able to test her own thesis when it came to being successful. In order to create a winning product in today’s market, it needs to challenge the ordinary and everything we take for granted as “ normal”. Through innovation, an artful design, and communicating in an accessible language, your disruption will make you a success.  Plus, we also talk about how tenacity is essential to being successful in both business and in life. Miki swears that being tenacious played an immense role in her success and that she can say, without a doubt, that without tenacity, her vision wouldn't have

What did you learn from the challenges you surpassed? Do you think that self-confidence is key to “winning” or thriving in life?   In this episode of the Align Podcast, Chris Duffin and I chat about the challenging and uncomfortable situations that we may face in our lives and how surpassing those is the only way for us to grow both mentally, but physically too. In fact, the same can be said about your muscles.   We also talk about Chris’ impressive training techniques that have been tested and clinically proven to get the results most people are looking for when weight lifting, but with less weight and less training time. Known as the BFR (blood flow restriction) method, this allows your body to actively flush your body’s toxins and forces both lymphatic and blood drainage. In fact, this method reduces the blood flow in your body to an area, provoking deep muscle fatigue sooner. This causes hypertrophy, which is an increase and growth of your muscle. Chris Duffin is an inventor, thought leader, and serial en

In this episode of the Align Podcast, Dr. Amen and I discuss the stigma towards mental illness and how it makes those who are suffering feel ashamed, which can worsen their symptoms and conditions. While most doctors might look at mental illness as a simple diagnosis, Dr. Amen was thought to think of people going through these health conditions not as someone with a diagnosis, but as a whole by considering the four circles of life; biological, psychological, social, and spiritual.    Plus, we also talk about how to deal with negative thoughts and a negative mindset. The first thing is to be able to detach ourselves from our thoughts, so we can deeply question them. Then, it is important to live with the end, meaning death, in mind. This way, we are much more likely to be present and take advantage of the now.   Dr.Daniel Amen is one of America’s leading psychiatrists and brain health experts. Dr. Amen has helped millions of people change their brains and lives through his health clinics, best-selling books, p

What is embodied cognition? How do our senses help us process our reality? How can psychedelics help us let go and surrender? In this episode of the Align Podcast, Kyle and I discuss psychedelics. Kyle narrates his 17-day experience with a medicine known for allowing its users to continue living through the experience during their sleep, with one single dosage. Further on, we also discuss depression and what is currently going on in the world.  Another interesting subject we cover is the value of intentionality. We are intentional about certain things, such as a business. but then we can be completely unintentional about other things, such as a geographic location. However, having acceptance and love for whatever your answers are to what you are intentional and unintentional about is essential. There’s no answer to what is the right or wrong way to live a life, but you must have the awareness to be able to engage with the choices you make.  Kyle Kingsbury is the host of the Kyle Kingsbury Podcast, is an optim

How important is blood sugar stability to your overall health? What happens if we don’t have that? How should we be eating for optimal energy, brain function, and to achieve satiety? In this episode of the Align Podcast, Dr. Will Cole and I discuss how exactly fasting affects our levels of hunger and our health. In fact,  fasting in a ketogenic diet, where most of the diet is plant-based, is a proven and effective way to help stabilize blood sugar, if done consistently.  Plus, Will discusses the benefits of eating and living intuitively and why he supports this lifestyle, beyond what the medical data says. He encourages people to check within themselves; check on their sleep quality, their energy levels, their brain functions, and to learn to listen to what feels better for themselves. This is the best way to achieve optimal health; by simply listening to your body.   Dr. Will Cole is a leading functional-medicine expert. Dr. Cole was named one of the top 50 functional-medicine and integrative doctors in the

Are you sleeping enough, eating enough, hydrating enough, or socializing enough? What happens if the answer is “no”? At what point will efficiency become a burden to our biology? In this Episode of the Align Podcast, Dr. Ruscio and I talk about how the answer to our health issues often lies in the foundational layers of our health. Too often, we have the initial reaction to look beyond those layers, when the answer to our conditions or disease lies in what we nourish and treat our bodies on a daily basis. Plus, we talk about how moderation is key to everything. We all have different bodies, so we must all make use of measures on a moderate basis, such as dieting and exercising, as all of our bodies will respond in their own unique way. Lastly, stress isn't always a hazard. When loaded properly, stressors help our organisms become more resilient, every time we recover.   Dr. Ruscio is a Doctor of Natural Medicine, Doctor of Chiropractic, clinical researcher, and author. His book, Healthy Gut Healthy You, has h

Where did COVID come from? What can you do right now to make sure you can fight the virus, if you are ever infected? Should you get vaccinated?   In this episode of the Align Podcast, Dr. Steven Quay and I discuss how the Coronavirus has been able to develop so quickly in the human body, the mechanisms of it, and how our immune system works to fight it. We talk about how exactly vaccines act to help our body fight viruses and how the antibody-dependent enhancement’s (ADE) unpredictability can affect people of different ages.   Plus, Dr. Quay points out how the posture that we tend to hold during the day causes us to lose lung capacity. With our lungs and intercostal muscles being primordial to effectively fight the hazards of COVID, he suggests a yoga-based practice to help us develop both of these capacities.   Dr. Steven Quay has over 360 published contributions to medicine, placing him in the top 1% of scientists worldwide. He holds 87 US patents and has invented seven FDA-approved pharmaceuticals which ha

What is the cure to pain? What are we supposed to do with the learnings we gain from going through painful experiences? What does holding space actually mean? What happens when we withhold our own truth? In this episode of the Align podcast, Stefano shares with us why and how he hit rock bottom, how he expressed his addictions to sex, alcohol, physical extenuation, materialism, status, and how someone living through a similar passage can find peace with their story.  Plus, we explore the reality that most of us act according to what people feel is “normal” and expected by our society, which results in us feeling ashamed of expressing what we truly want and suppressing our own fantasies.  Stefanos Sifandos is a relationship alchemist, international speaker, and author who facilitates transformational growth through neuro-empowerment practices to help evolve and enhance relationships.   What we discuss:   06:03: Stefano’s 10 day fast in the wild 12:50:  What does ‘holding space’ actually mean? 14:27: How to cul

Can the dietary choices we make right now affect how we feel later in the day? What’s the difference between “doing” health and creating health? In this episode of the Align Podcast, Drew and I discuss how the food that we consume can impact our mental health both in a positive or negative way. For example, incorporating brain food such as omega-3 fatty acids and leafy greens are proven to help promote healthy brain functions and keep your mood stable.  Plus, we talk about how individuality is not something that is taken into consideration on social media when advice is shared in regards to health and diets. We all have different genetics and needs in terms of nutrition and following a cookie-cutter rule for nutrition can lead to unintentional malnutrition.  Drew Ramsey, M.D. is a psychiatrist, author, and farmer. He is a clear voice in the mental health conversation and one of psychiatry's leading proponents of using nutritional interventions. He is an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia U

For some of us, we tend to say yes to any opportunity that comes our way. For others, we just aren't able to say no to favors that are being asked of us. But why is that? Why do we say YES when we want to scream NO? In this episode of the Align Podcast, Christine Hassler and I define issue-based relationships, how to build a proper foundation for opening up to relationships, and what type of people should be staying single at certain points in their lives.  Plus, we cover how compensatory strategies are formed in childhood as coping mechanisms that are later reflected throughout our adult lives. Christine Hassler is a best-selling author, keynote speaker, master coach, and podcast host who is committed to guiding people and organizations into their highest potential.   What we discuss:   02:00: Christine's process in saying “no” 05:04: Where does the fear of saying “no” come from? 08:34: How can someone recognize their own compensatory patterns? What is the expectation hangover? 11:16: Why are we here? 12:54:

What is a thought? Where are our thoughts located? What weight do our thoughts have?  In this episode of the Align Podcast, Dr. Caroline Leaf and I discuss what defines the concept of thoughts and how exactly they affect our body and our DNA. In fact, the human brain is capable to identify toxic and negative thoughts and treat them as foreign invaders, similar to how our bodies react to foreign invaders that attack our immune system. Plus, Dr. Leaf shares with us a proven 5 step process that is designed to help us overcome trauma, depression, anxiety, and more.  Dr. Caroline Leaf is a communication pathologist and cognitive neuroscientist, specializing in cognitive and metacognitive neuropsychology. She has researched the mind-brain connection, the nature of mental health, and the formation of memory. Dr. Leaf is also the bestselling author of Switch on Your Brain, Think Learn Succeed, Think and Eat Yourself Smart, and many more.   What we discuss: 02:02: What is a thought? Where are thoughts located? What we

We often feel that the career choice we made years ago is permanent, that we are hostages of a degree we earned or a couple of decades of experience that we accumulated. But that isn’t true. In this episode of the Align podcast, Ashley Stahl and I discuss the 9 core skill sets that you should develop if you are contemplating switching careers. Plus, Ashley explains how the skills that you naturally have are more important than the interests you have. Lastly, we get to hear all about how Ashley’s impressive background in counterterrorism helped her develop soft skills that are essential for the career choice she made after leaving the Pentagon. Ashley is an angel investor, writer, career coach, podcast host, and an ex-counterterrorism professional for the Pentagon. Her leadership firm, Ashley International Inc., offers private coaching and unparalleled online programs to empower Millennials to find their purpose, land more job offers, and increase their income.   What we discuss:   04:26: Ashley's creative pro

How many of you experienced bullying in your childhood? How did that experience shape the person that you are today? Is self-love all that you need to get through difficult times? In this episode of the Align Podcast, we get deep and personal with Justin Wren. From bullying to self-sabotage with addiction, we discuss the importance of learning self-love and how expressing kindness towards yourself and others is the key to healing. We also get a very intimate insight into Justin’s darkest thoughts and moments and how he overcame them. Plus, a message is given to those going through dark times. Justin Wren is a former heavyweight division fighter, holding an MMA record of 15-2. After overcoming depression and addiction, Justin took the decision to step away from MMA, seeking out a purpose and passion for his life. He then founded Fight For The Forgotten initiative, where he now fights for those who don’t have a voice. If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a loved one, or would like emotional suppo

Are you honest with yourself? Do you have realistic expectations of how your body can perform? What thoughts are you using to fuel your body and optimize its performance?  In this episode of the Align podcast, Steven Kotler and I discuss how understanding our own human biology is the most important thing we can do for ourselves in order to properly pursue and attain our goals. In fact, knowing how to make biology work for us and not against us is the secret of many successful people. We also talk about the crucialness of honesty, and how we must accept that we can only work with what we have. Steven recommends how we should feed our pattern recognition system properly and on a daily basis to help us reach peak body and brain performance. Steven Kotler is a New York Times bestselling author, an award-winning journalist, and the Executive Director of the Flow Research Collective. He is one of the world’s leading experts on human performance. His nine bestsellers are praised all around the world and by industry

If time is relative, how can we dilate it to live presently? How can you improve your focus to bring more time, energy, and money into flow? What does a monk think of money and what financial advice does he give?  In this episode of the Align Podcast, I have a conversation with Pedram Shojai, a.k.a. The Urban Monk, about the very fundamentals of meditation, how to be present and mindful, and how you can go as far as you can with the means you have today. Plus, we talk about the concept of identity and how so many of us nowadays find our identity structure through ideology groups. We also discuss the value of rites of passage and the importance of wilderness, which often seems to be a missing component in urban life. Pedram is a master herbalist, licensed acupuncturist, and wellness consultant. He is a dynamic teacher, Taoist minister, and lifelong student of various Alchemical Traditions. Pedram is also a Filmmaker and author, father, and husband.   What we discuss:   03:55: Pedram’s experience of studying wi

What is thyroid disease, exactly? What causes it? Can we even reverse thyroid disease? If so, how can we do that? In this episode of the Align Podcast,  I have a conversation with Alan Christianson, where we discuss how the foods we choose to fuel our body can actually help reverse thyroid disease and how a healthy thyroid contributes to our immune system, our mental health, and our physical health. We then break down what is iodine, what are the optimal levels for human consumption, and what are the best resources we can refer to in order to ensure we are intaking the proper and recommended amount.  We also pick Alan’s brain about emotions and how they can impact our overall wellbeing, his own personal practices of meditation and journaling, and we even touch upon epistemology! Alan Christianson is a Naturopathic Medical Doctor (NMD) who specializes in natural endocrinology with a focus on thyroid disorders. He is the author of The Metabolism Reset Diet and the New York Times bestselling book The Adrenal Res